Tie rod connection



Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES Zdddt PATENT OFFECE ApplicationJune 12,

Claims.

"l'he invention relates generally to automobiles -and it has particularrelation to tie rod assembliesforming a part of the steering mechanism.

One object of the invention is to provide an 16 improved tie rodarrangement which is more efficient and durable.

Another' object of the invention is. to provide an improved tie rodarrangement which employs Vthreaded bearings.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tie rodarrangement employing threaded bearings, wherein provision is made for`permitting requisite universal movement at different points andadjustments at different points.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tie rodarrangement employing threaded bearings, which is particularly adaptedfor use in connection with individual suspension wheels.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tie rodarrangement which is particularly adapted for use in automobiles havingthe conventional, rigid axle construction.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription, the specincation relating thereto, and from the claimshereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thedrawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the 'front end of an automobilehaving individually sprung wheels, wherein one form of the invention isemployed;

Figure 2 is a detailed View, partly in cross sec- 35? tion, illustratinga major portion of the tie rod assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, of theassembly shown by Figure 2; and Figure l is a fragmentary plan View,similar to 1U Figure '1, showing an automobile having a rigid `aide4connecting the front wheels, wherein another formof the invention isemployed.

Referring to Figure l, the chassis frame 'of the automobile isvindicated generally at lll and includes'side members ll and l2andacross frame `member I3. The front wheels of the automobile areindicated at il and and each wheel is individually sprung. While dierentforms of individual suspensions may .be used, in the con- -50 structionillustrated it is contemplated using upper and lower arms at each sideof the automobile which are pivotally connected to the frame ,and to theknuckle brackets or kingpin assemblies of the wheel, so as -to `permitvertical hinging 5.5 movement of the Wheel with respect to the frame.

.Inasmuch as the present invention is concerned only with the steeringarrangement, further reference to details of the invention will not bemade except to identify the kingpin at each side, and these areindicated at Il and I8. As will be readily understood, rigid arms i9 and2i! project rearwardly from the wheels or kingpin, from which it followsthan when either of the arms lil or is turned, Vthe wheel adjacentthereto will be turned likewise.

For turning the arms I9 and 2l), and hence turning the wheels,an'arrangement is provided which includes an arm 23 locatedsubstantially midway between the wheels and which is pivoted onthe framemember i3 by means of a vertically i disposed pivot pin 24. Preferably,the pin 2lis threaded and the arm 23 has a threaded aperture threadedlyreceiving the pin, so that lateral oscillatory movements of the armoccur about a threaded bearing. As best shown by Figure Z, the arm 23terminates rearwardly in a bifurcated portion, providing spaced arms and2t. Arm l25 is substantially longer than the arm 2? and is `externallythreaded for receiving a pair of blocks 2l and 23, having threadedopenings i9 1 and 3B for receiving the arm. The block 28 has avertically disposed threaded opening 33 located in offset relation tothe opening 3B, and this threaded opening threadedly receives aturneddown end portion 34 of a rod 35, which may be suitably connectedto the crank arrrr on the steering post in. such manner that uponturning the steering wheel, the arm 35 moves the arm 23laterally aboutits pivotal connection 24.

The block 2l has a threaded opening 3l similar to the opening 33 and, asbest shown by Figure 3, this opening receives the turned-down threadedend 38 of an angular pin 39. The other end of the pin 39 is disposedsubstantially horizontally andis threaded, as indicated at ll, into oneend of a tubular tie rod 4l. That portion of the tie rod threadablyreceiving the end t@ of the pin is longitudinally slotted, as indicatedat lit, and clamping means 43 surrounds the slotted portion of the tierod, from which it follows that the end of the tie rod may be clampedinto non-rotatable locking engagement with the threaded end of the pin.

The other end of the tie rod il threadably re ceives a threaded end 46of a second angular pin ill, but in this case a pivotal bearing isprovided allowing relative turning movement of the tie rod and thethreaded end oi the pin. 'Pin il has a downwardly projecting threadedend d6 that is threaded into a vertically disposed opening 11S of athird block 50 and this block has a threaded opening 5I, similar to theother openings mentioned, which receives the threaded end of the rigidarm I9 extending to the wheel I4.

The connections between the arm 26 and the rigid arm 26 for turningwheel I5 are the same as the connections above described between the arm25 and the arm I9. In general, and as shown by Figure 1, the block onthe arm 26 is indicated at 55, the tubular tie rod at 56, and the blockon the arm 20 at 51. It will be understood that the inner end of the tierod 56 similarly has a slotted end provided with a clamp and that itsother end has a pivotal, threaded bearing with the pin projecting fromthe block 51.

For lubricating the connection, and referring to the left handconnection shown in Figure 3, the angular pin 41 has a central,longitudinal bore indicated at 65, which extends into the end 46 of thepin and which at the outer end of the portion 43 has a grease ttingconnected thereto, as indicated at 6 I. Radial openings 62 communicatewith this bore within the end of the tie rod and extend to the threadedsurface of the pin so that lubricant may be forced between the threadedbearing surfaces. Block 50 similarly has radial openings 64 thatcommunicate with the bore 66 and these openings extend to the threadedbearing surface. A radial opening 65 is also provided in the block 50between the threaded openings 69 and 5I, so as to allow lubricant alsoto enter between the threaded bearing surfaces on the threaded end ofthe arm I9 and the block.

The threaded bearings between the blocks 21 and 28 and the lpin 25 andbetween the blocks and the ends of the pin 39 and steering rod 35similarly are lubricated by providing bores and intercommunicatingopenings. It will be understood, of course, that the connections betweenthe arm 26 and the rigid arm 20 similarly are lubricated.

It will now be appreciated that during upward and downward movement ofeither wheel, the blocks will readily permit the vertical, pivotalmovement required. During any steering movement, when the arm 23 isturned laterally, the connections between the tie rods and the blocks 55and 51 readily permit the necessary horizontal pivotal movement requiredbetween the rigid arms IS and 20 and the arm 23.v Additionally, aseither wheel turns and, for example, the wheel I4, it will beappreciated that the rigid arm I9 will not turn in a truly horizontalplane, because the Kingpin has a certain caster angle and therefore theplane of movement of the arm I9 will be somewhat inclined. Therefore,since the pivotal movement of the arm I9 as the wheel turns is not inthe same plane as the horizontal pivotal movement of the arm 23, theconnections must permit or accommodate this variation. This is permittedby pivotal bearing between tie rod and the end 46 of the pin 41 whichmay turn therein.

The entire arrangement, operating cooperatively, permits any kind ofmovement required to steer the Vehicle at any time regardless of thevertical movement of the wheels, or variations in the movement of onewheel with respect to the other. In other words, the arrangement permitsuniversal movement wherever required.

In the construction shown by Figure 4, a rigid axle is provided, and thewheels similarly have rearwardly projecting, rigid arms, indicated at 16and 1l. Blocks 12 and 13 are threadably mounted on the outer ends of thearms 'I0 and 1I, respectively, and each of these blocks is identical tothe block 50 previously described in connection with the arms I9 and 20.Angular pins 14 and 15, threadably engage the blocks 12 and 13, andthese pins are identical to the pin 41 previously described andcooperate with the blocks in the same manner the pin 41 cooperates withthe block 50. The horizontal and threaded portions of the pins 15 and 15are threaded into opposite ends of a tubular tie rod 16, and the tie rodis adjustably clamped on the horizontal portion of the pin 15, while theopposite end of the tie rod is rotatable on the horizontal portion ofpin 14. Steering movement may be imparted to one wheel through aconventional steering rod arrangement, indicated at 11, and it will beappreciated that both wheels will be turned through the tie rodconnection.

Generally, the invention provides a highly satisfactory steeringassembly, provides the necessary freedom of movement wherever requiredwhile still obtaining the advantages of threaded bearings at eachpivotal point. It will be further appreciated that once the assembly ismade, none of the parts can become separated, as only a limited turningmovement is permitted at any point of connection. Furthermore, it willbe appreci ated that adjustments can be made at any point withoutinterfering with the threaded bearing operation.

Although more than one form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a pair of steerable wheels, arms projecting from thewheels and having threaded ends, an element threadedly pivoted on thethreaded end of each arm and having a threaded opening the axis of whichis angled to the axis of the arm, an angled pin having opposed endsthreaded and one end of which is pivotally threaded into the threadedopening in the element, and tubular tie rod means having internallythreaded ends threaded on the opposite ends of the pins respectively forconnecting said elements.

2. In combination, a pair of steerable wheels, arms projecting from thewheels and having threaded ends, a tubular tie rod having internallythreaded ends, an element pivotally threaded on one of the arms andhaving a threaded opening, a second element pivotally threaded in saidopening and threaded in one end of the tie rod, with said threaded endof the arm, the opening in the rst mentioned element and the tie rod enddisposed at angles to each other, means including a threaded elementthreaded into the opposite end of the tie rod for connecting such end tothe other arm, and means adjustably clamping one end of the tie rodabout the element threaded thereinto, the other end of the tie rodhaving a threaded pivotal bearing engagement with the element threadedthereinto, whereby the tie rod and one element threaded thereinto mayrelatively turn during the steering operation.

3. In combination, a steering wheel arm, a second pivoted arm spacedtherefrom, a tie rod having threaded ends and extending between thearms, threaded elements connecting one arm to one end of the tie rod toprovide three threaded bearings having axes directed at angles to` eachother, and threaded elements connecting the other end of the tie rod tothe other arm to provide two threaded bearings having axes directed atangles to each other and at an angle to the end of the tie rod, one ofthe latter ele ments being adjustably clamped to the end of the tie rod.

4. In combination, a frame, steerable wheels at opposite sides of frameand having arms provided with 'threaded ends, a central laterallyswingable arm on the frame and having bifurcated, threaded portions, ajoint element on each arm and having threaded bearing engagement withthe threaded end thereof, a second joint element having threaded bearingengagement with the rst joint element but with the axes of the twobearings at angles to each other, similarly related joint elements oneach of the bifurcated portions of the center arm, a tie rod withthreaded connections between said second joint element on each wheel armand the corresponding adjacent joint element of the center arm, one ofthe threaded connections at the ends of the tie rod being of pivotalbearing character whereby the second joint elements may turn relativelyabout the axis of the tie rod.

5. In combination, a frame, steerable wheels at opposite sides of frameand having arms provided with threaded ends, a central laterallyswingable arm on the frame and having bifurcated threaded portions, ajoint element on each arm and having threaded bearing engagement withthe threaded end thereof, a second joint element having threaded bearingengagement with the first joint element but with the' axes of the twobearings at angles to each other, similarly related joint elements oneach of the biurcated portions of the center arm, a tubular tie rodbetween the joint on each wheel arm and the adjacent joint on the centerarm and having internal threads on its ends, and threads on the secondjoint elements engaging the threads on the ends of the rod, one of thethreaded connections at the ends of the tie rod being of pivotal bearingcharacter, whereby the second joint elements may turn relatively aboutthe axis of the tie rod.

JOHN W. LEIGHTON.

